Policy, Access, and the Future of eMTBs

Electric mountain bikes (eMTBs) are no longer emerging, they’re here and they’re reshaping the trail landscape in real time. As e-bikes, and increasingly eMTBs, represent a growing share of bike sales nationwide, communities are navigating complex and evolving questions around access, policy, and land management.

At the same time, regulations are shifting. Federal guidance continues to evolve, states are adopting and adapting the three-class system, and local jurisdictions are taking varied approaches: some are expanding access, while others refine safety standards and enforcement.

For trail organization leaders, the question isn’t whether eMTBs will impact your work, it’s how prepared you are to respond thoughtfully and effectively. Join our Government Affairs team for a timely and nuanced exploration of the eMTB regulatory landscape. This session will begin with a strategic overview of current developments at the federal, state, and local levels, followed by a candid panel discussion and open Q&A. From emerging state-level policies like licensing requirements to evolving federal land management designations, you’ll gain the context and tools needed to navigate competing perspectives, community expectations, and future opportunities.

Join us in exploring the topic, and bring your questions and ideas regarding the future of eMTBs access on trails.

What you’ll Ride Away with:
By the end of this Leadership Lab, participants will be able to:
-- Understand current federal regulatory landscape, including critical distinctions between tools for eMTB access to motorized and non motorized trails; as well as key state-level trends.
-- Understand what fits within the three-class framework and how federal land managers interpret these categories.
-- Identify approaches to utilizing existing examples to protect and gain trail access.